Reborn as a Noble's Son

Seeing Nie Zhenbang still pretending to be oblivious, Elder Nie was exasperated. He jested, “You stinky boy, you think I don’t know? Even though you stay behind the scenes, that Wal-Mart supermarket you’re running, and the recent high-profile international trade conference. Do you really think you can fool the people of Jingcheng? Do you think that just a few of you young ones could achieve this sort of success? If it weren’t for Nanxun Chief giving you a push behind the scenes, it wouldn’t take Xuri standing up – the grassroots alone could have shut your supermarket down.”

At this point, Elder Nie saw Nie Zhenbang’s surprised expression and felt a bit of satisfaction. His own grandson was too mysterious – too mature, steady, and elegant in handling matters. All of these were positive traits. But, he was too mature. Looking at him, Elder Nie felt like he wasn’t looking at a young man, but rather a middle-aged man.

Fortunately, Elder Nie didn’t voice this out, otherwise, Nie Zhenbang would be scared out of his wits. He had actually reincarnated from middle age. If Elder Nie had said that, Nie Zhenbang definitely would have felt that his secret had been exposed.

“Zhenbang, don’t get priorities wrong. In our country, power rules over everything. Military and political power. These are fundamental. Without them, even if you were the richest man in the world, it would all be devoid of substance. What I mean is, you and Jiamin, should tread this path. Leave all the miscellaneous things behind,” Elder Nie’s character was once again revealed. Just a few words in, his paternalistic style made itself clear.

Nie Zhenbang could swear that when it came to the things that come to pass in the future, nobody understood them better than he did. How did people like Zhou Zhengyi fare? They might have seen good times, but when they fell, they fell hard. Power. It has always reigned supreme above everything else.

The Nie family, whether the second or third generation, were all quiet as a church mouse in front of Elder Nie. However, Nie Zhenbang didn’t quite feel the same. He plastered a glum expression on his face and said, “Grandpa, you used to be a political commissar. We can’t just have autocracy; we must focus on democracy. How old am I? Yes, I’ll go into politics. But before that, I want to build a solid economic foundation for the Nie family, for our country.”

“Oh? That’s quite the ambition. Is it based on that little supermarket of yours?” Perhaps he was tired of his progeny always agreeing with him. Elder Nie showed no displeasure towards Nie Zhenbang’s attitude and began teasing him. Seeing Nie Zhenbang’s rebellious look, he continued to taunt, “Relying on this could indeed build an economic foundation for the Nie family, so that our descendants wouldn’t commit any economic blunders. But for the country?

Zhenbang, don’t you think that is a bit of an exaggeration?”

Nie Zhenbang nodded, then said solemnly, “Grandpa, relying solely on the supermarket is indeed not enough. Our country’s foundation in various scientific researches is extremely weak, lagging far behind the world’s advanced level. My target is not within the country, but northwards?”

As Nie Zhenbang’s voice fell, Elder Nie had already stood up. The north — that elder socialist brother, the superpower that stood alongside the United States on the world stage – the Soviet Union. Was there a possibility of wresting food away from their mouths?

With a keen look, Elder Nie studied Nie Zhenbang. After a while, he finally said, “I should have guessed it. Jialiang, with his cautious and deliberate personality but lacking boldness, couldn’t have penned that predictive piece on the Soviet Union. I thought it was the work of Nanxun Chief and Old Huang. I didn’t expect it to be yours. It seems you’ve been planning this since then.”

At this point, Elder Nie was somewhat concerned. What sort of grandson was this? He had manipulated strings, so much so that he had gotten him and the senior officials at the center involved.

Nie Zhenbang nodded. Politicians of the older generation weren’t blowing hot air. With just a bit of information, they made accurate deductions. Nie

Zhenbang genuinely admired Elder Nie’s skill. The old really are crafty.

Suddenly, Nie Zhenbang continued, “Grandpa, you have access to information about the Soviet Union. Since the death of Comrade Chernenko, Gorbachev has taken his place. The political landscape of the Soviet Union is starting to highlight contradictions and problems. The enterprise autonomy reform started during Comrade Chernenko’s time has met with increasing opposition. As you know, the Soviet Union focuses on heavy and military industries, but the supply of daily necessities and food is scarce. This, is the biggest problem threatening the welfare of the Soviet Union at its core. I’m not exaggerating. Right now, the Soviet Union is as good as a dying camel, we’re just waiting for the appearance of the last straw.”

Upon hearing this, Elder Nie’s expression turned serious. As a proletariat revolutionary, Elder Nie had strong affections for the Soviet Union. Looking at

Nie Zhenbang, he tentatively asked, “Zhenbang, are these not exaggerated words? Is there really no way to save the situation?”

Nie Zhenbang shook his head, then said, “Grandpa, it’s impossible now. Even God and Buddha would be helpless at this point. Take the foreign exchange market, for example. Currently, the official foreign exchange rate in the Soviet Union is one US dollar to 0.9 rubles. But on the black market, one US dollar is

90 rubles. And this gap is likely to continue to widen.”

Even though Elder Nie wasn’t involved in economy matters, he had some understanding of it. Thus, he understood Nie Zhenbang’s plan. By relying on necessities, scarce goods, and food, they could take advantage of the Soviet Union’s increasingly chaotic situation to exchange for advanced heavy industrial equipment, like mother machines and advanced stamping machines as well as advanced military research materials and weapons, such as aircraft carriers, fighter planes, and missiles.

On contemplating this, Elder Nie looked at Nie Zhenbang seriously and asked, “Zhenbang, how sure are you about this?”

Nie Zhenbang knew about everything that would happen in the future. He was fully aware of the enormous profits gained by domestic speculators who shuttled back and forth between China and the Soviet Union through the Siberian Artery during the disintegration of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s and early 1990s. But having never operated it himself, he hesitated for a moment before saying, “Eighty percent certain!”

“Eighty percent? Good, when will this plan begin? I will make sure the military fully supports you. However, you must focus on national defense industry and weapons research. This would be considered significant if you accomplish it.” Elder Nie, who was from a military background, made his decision without hesitation. In a war, six or seven out of ten chances of winning would be considered quite good, let alone eighty percent. For the older generation, national defense was always of paramount importance. Now that such an opportunity had come their way, Elder Nie would certainly not miss it.

Having said that, Elder Nie looked at Nie Zhenbang again and said, “Zhenbang, if you agree to this, I will leave you alone until your university graduation. In the meantime, the Nie family will fully support you. This is our agreement. Can you do it?”

Upon hearing this, Nie Zhenbang was ecstatic – with the old man’s approval and his complete control of the operation, Nie family would surely be able to overcome any upcoming struggle. His efforts were finally being rewarded. He was caught off guard by the sudden proposal but quickly regained composure, nodded seriously, and said, “Grandpa, a word once given is unalterable.”

Elder Nie laughed heartily at this point, “Hahaha, good, good, this is the responsibility that my Nie family’s descendants should bear. To start a grand era for Huaxia, how ambitious!”

PS: We are first on the urban category and fifth on the new book chart! This is our joint honor, let’s witness it together. Thanks again to brother Longshao LLI for his donation, that’s his fourth time donating. Thanks to the brother Stone Soft Heart for his donation of 588 Qidian coins. Both of you are awesome!

Here’s today’s second update, for all of you!